Apple Designs Different: Extends Leadership in Notebooks with PowerBook G3

Apple Introduces World's Fastest Notebook for People Who Think Creatively

CUPERTINO, California--Nov. 10, 1997--Targeting the needs of creative "road
warriors" who require the most in performance and advanced multimedia
capabilities from a notebook computer, Apple Computer, Inc. today
introduced the Macintosh PowerBookG3. PowerBook G3 is based on the third
generation PowerPC G3 processor, a high-performance microprocessor
optimized for the Mac OS.

"The PowerBook G3 combines next generation processor technology with the
latest in Mac OS system software to provide creative professionals with a
new standard in mobile computing," said Phil Schiller, Apple's vice
president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "There is more of everything for
Macintosh customers with the PowerBook G3--more speed, more memory, more
storage. This is high- end desktop performance in a mobile Macintosh."

The PowerBook G3 builds upon the innovative feature set of the fast
PowerBook 3400 series, previously the world's fastest notebook, by adding
the high-performance PowerPC G3 processor running at 250Mhz, with a 512K L2
cache and a 50MHz system and memory bus. A host of other innovative
features, such as a 5GB hard disk, 20x-speed CD drive, built-in
ethernet/modem, hot swappable expansion bay modules, Apple Location Manager
and four speaker sound system, provide Mac OS customers with the fastest
notebook for creating, presenting, sending and receiving media rich
information anytime, anywhere.

"Apple continues to demonstrate the ability to develop PowerBooks with
industry leading performance," said J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., president of
Mobile Insights in Mountain View, Calif. "The customer who is using a
Macintosh desktop can be assured that the PowerBook G3 will provide them
with true Power Macintosh performance in a portable."

Performance

The PowerBook G3 delivers high-end desktop performance in a mobile
solution. The product is based on the PowerPC G3, the third generation
PowerPC G3 processor from Motorola and IBM and the first processor
specifically designed to optimize the Mac OS and associated applications.
System enhancements include a 50MHz system bus (25 percent faster than
previous PowerBook models), 32MB of EDO RAM expandable to 160MB, and a 5GB
ATA IDE hard disk drive. The notebook also boasts 512K level 2 backside
cache and 64K on-chip level 1 cache. The new backside cache design boosts
performance significantly by allowing the processor and level 2 cache to
communicate at much higher speeds than previously possible. A 20x-speed CD
drive provides fast access to CD-based information.

Although higher-performance components are used in the PowerBook G3, the
low-power consumption of the new PowerPC processor combined with a
higher-capacity 47-watt/hour Lithium ion battery enables customers to enjoy
two to four hour battery life.

"Apple and Motorola have delivered the fastest processor available to
mobile customers," said Bud Broeker, corporate vice present and general
manager of Motorola's Personal Computing Division. "This latest PowerPC
design combines performance with minimal power requirements, which
eliminates the necessity of choosing either top-end performance or
portability."

Multimedia

The PowerBook G3 is designed for creative professionals and authors in all
markets who demand desktop performance yet need mobility. Enhanced
multimedia features include 2MB of VRAM which supports 24-bit video out,
enabling millions of colors on an external monitor; 18-bit color is
supported on the notebook's 12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix SVGA color
display. The PowerBook G3 also provides an enhanced Chips and Technology
65554 PCI video controller that supports hardware acceleration for faster
graphics.

The PowerBook G3 has a unique four speaker sound system, PCI video
controller with hardware acceleration, industry standard VGA connector for
24-bit video out, 16-bit stereo in/out, Zoomed Video support and
software-based MPEG-1 decompression. All of these features combined provide
users with one of the most robust systems available today and the key
elements they need to create and present multimedia rich information.

"I do everything on the PowerBook G3. It has become an indispensable piece
of equipment in my camera bag that lets me create what I see in my head,
wherever I am, quickly and easily in a manner I had never dreamed would be
possible when I used my first PowerBook," said Carlan Tapp of Tapp Studio,
based in Seattle, Wash." In the beginning, the thought of doing serious
PhotoShop work was still limited to the desktop Macs in the studio, but
with the PowerBook G3, PhotoShop runs very quickly and is the total answer
to do VR authoring. No more stitching on our current desktop systems. The
PowerBook G3 outruns and finishes on an average VR pano up to six minutes
faster than our 8500."

Communications

The PowerBook G3 features a number of communications capabilities including
built-in 10Mbps Ethernet and 33.6Kbps modem, in addition to an RJ-45
connector that can accept either Ethernet or telephone cable. Other
communications capabilities include built-in 1MB industry standard IrDA for
transferring information wirelessly to other infrared capable devices. In
addition, PowerBook users will have access through the serial port to
GeoPort technology for ISDN and analog modems.

Expansion

A flexible expansion bay on the PowerBook G3 accepts a variety of modules
including a floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, additional hard drive,
magneto-optical drive, and internal AC adapter; a Zip drive from VST
Technologies, Inc. is also expected to be available. In addition, expansion
bay modules from the PowerBook 3400, 5300, and 190 series can be used with
the PowerBook G3. For more expansion options, two PC Card slots are
provided to support two Type II or one Type III card. The PowerBook G3
allows users to "hot swap" modules while the system is running unlike other
notebook systems that require a user to shut down or sleep their system
prior to the removal of an expansion bay module.

Software

The PowerBook G3 comes configured with Mac OS 8 and a variety of
productivity, communications, and compatibility software applications to
provide a complete, mobile computing solution right out of the box.
Productivity software includes Now Software Inc.'s Now Up-To-Date and Now
Contact. Communications software provided includes Internet tools such as
Mac OS 8 Internet Assistant, Netscape Navigator 3.0, Microsoft Internet
Explorer 3.0 and ForeFront Group's WebWhacker 3.0 for browsing the Internet
off line.

The PowerBook G3 also ships with Apple Location Manager, a software utility
which allows users to save system settings that are location dependent
including networking, printer, time zone, file sharing and sound. Once a
defined location is set up, a user simply selects that location and the
system automatically reconfigures to reflect the chosen environment. Apple
Remote Access is also included for easily connecting to a desktop or
network from a remote location. Compatibility software includes Macintosh
PC Exchange for reading and writing PC-formatted floppy disks, Macintosh
Easy Open and MacLinkPlus from Dataviz for reading and translating
PC-formatted files.

Availability, Pricing, and Configuration

The PowerBook G3 is available immediately in the United States with an
estimated retail price of $5,700. Additionally, the PowerBook G3 is
expected to be available in Europe in late November, and Japan and other
countries in December; pricing may vary per region. The PowerBook G3 will
be sold in one configuration: 250MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 512K level 2
backside cache, 32MB EDO RAM, internal 5GB IDE hard drive module, 12.1"
(diagonal) active-matrix SVGA color display, built-in 1.4MB Apple
SuperDrive floppy disk drive, and internal 20x-speed CD-ROM drive module.

Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with
the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission to bring
the best personal computing products and support to students, educators,
designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons, and consumers in over
140 countries around the world.

Nathalie Welch
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-5430
email: welch.n@apple.com

Todd Paoletti
NRG for Apple Computer, Inc.
(415) 827-7030
email: todd@nrgpr.com

Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6877
email: brady2@apple.com

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